New Guinea Impatiens plant named `214`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `214`, characterized by its medium pink-colored flowers; freely flowering habit; outwardly spreading, rounded and mounding growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green, matte, non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `214`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new varieties that have a uniform plant habit,attractive flower colors, good flower form and numerous flowers perplant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of aproprietary seedling selection identified as Q672 as the male, or pollenparent, with the proprietary seedling selection identified as I212 asthe female, or seed patent. The cultivar `214` was discovered andselected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany. Asexualreproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atGensingen, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `214`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `214` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Medium pink-colored flowers.

2. Freely flowering.

3. Outwardly spreading, rounded and mounding growth habit.

4. Freely branching plant habit.

5. Dark green, matte, non-variegated foliage.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is similar in flower color to the NewGuinea Impatiens cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon` (disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 9,213). However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas,Calif. under commercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiensdiffered from plants of the cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon` in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens more outwardly spreading thanplants of the cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon`.

2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely branching thanplants of the cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon`.

3. Leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are solid green incolor whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon`are variegated in color. In addition, the color of the lower leafsurfaces of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens is dark red whereasthe color of the lower leaf surfaces of plants of the cultivar `BFP-397Light Salmon` is green.

4. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are slightlysmaller and less rounded than flowers of plants of the cultivar `BFP-397Light Salmon`.

5. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have a tri-colorappearance whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar `BFP-397 LightSalmon` have a bi-color appearance.

6. Flower color of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens does not fadecompared to plants of the cultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon`.

7. Flower peduncles of the new New Guinea Impatiens are longer but notas upright as flower peduncles of plants of the cultivar `BFP-397 LightSalmon`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and thecultivar `BFP-397 Light Salmon` appears in Chart A at the end of thespecification.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plantof `214`. The second photograph comprises a close-up view of typicalflowers and upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of leaves of thecultivars `BFP-397 Light Salmon` (top of photo) and `214` (bottom ofphoto).

The flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

The cultivar `214` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 25-cm hanging basketsin Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29C. and nighttemperatures ranging from 16 to 18C and light levels averaging 3,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri `214`.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens cv. `214`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary seedling selection Q672.

Female parent.--Proprietary seedling selection I212.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 15 days with 21C. soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Outwardly spreading, rounded and mounding.

Growth habit.--Vigorous. Freely branching, dense and bushy. Suitable for10 to 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height: About 32 cm. Width or spread: About 58 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: About eight. Size: Length: 17 to 20 cm.Diameter: 1.6 to 1.7 cm. Internode length: 7.5 to 8 cm. Color: Darkerthan 57A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect.Size, largest leaves: Length: 10 to 13 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape:Ovate with acuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate margin. Texture:Smooth, matte. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 147A. Young foliage,lower surface: 59A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 59A. Venation, uppersurface: 59B. Venation, lower surface: 59A. Petiole: Size: Length: About4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: 59A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Medium pink flowers. Freely and continuouslyflowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually seven to nine flowersper lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and faceoutward. Flowers flat and rounded to rectangular. Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.--Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Depth: About 5mm.

Flower buds.--Size: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape:Ovoid. Color: 52A/52B.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Size (largest petals): Length: Top petal: About3 cm. Middle petals: About 3.4 cm. Bottom petals: About 4 cm. Width: Toppetal: About 5 cm. Middle petals: About 3.5 cm. Bottom petals: About 4.5cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, cuneate or obtuse base andentire margin. Texture: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Iridescent, 50A. When opening, lower surface: Iridescent,52B/52C. Fully opened, upper surface: Iridescent, 50B at margins with52C at center grading to white with magenta, 57A/57B, at base. Fullyopened, lower surface: Iridescent, 52B/52C. Fading to: 52C.

Spur.--Length: About 5 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: Mostly 60B,59A at tip.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5 cm. Angle: Mostly outward. Strength: Strong.Color: 60A/60B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused,filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 5 by 4 mm. Anthercolor: Pinkish cream. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Cream.Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Gynoecium length: About 6 mm. Gynoeciumcolor: Darker than 59A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance norsusceptibility to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production is not usually observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARAC-                   `BFP-397                                            TERISTIC   `214`          LIGHT SALMON`                                       ______________________________________                                        GROWTH HABIT                                                                             Upright and outwardly                                                                        Mostly upright with                                            spreading, mounding                                                                          open habit                                          NUMBER OF LAT-                                                                           About 8        5 to 6                                              ERAL BRANCHES                                                                 PER PLANT                                                                     STEM COLOR Darker than 57A                                                                              148B with flecks of 60C                             LEAF COLOR,                                                                              147A           147A                                                YOUNG, UPPER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR,                                                                              59A            146B                                                YOUNG, LOWER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR,                                                                              Darker than 139A                                                                             147A with yellow green,                             MATURE, UPPER             151A/151B, variegation                              SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR,                                                                              59A            146B to 144A/144B                                   MATURE, LOWER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                       LEAF VENATION                                                                            59B            36A                                                 COLOR, UPPER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                       LEAF VENATION                                                                            59A            147B/147C                                           COLOR, LOWER                                                                  COLOR                                                                         PETIOLE COLOR                                                                            59A            63B/63C                                             FLOWER LENGTH                                                                            About 6.5 cm   About 7 cm                                          FLOWER WIDTH                                                                             About 6 cm     About 7 cm                                          SPUR COLOR 60B with 59A at tip                                                                          59A with 144A at tip                                PETAL COLOR,                                                                             50A            More orange than 43C                                WHEN OPENING,                                                                 UPPER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                             52B/52C        50B                                                 WHEN OPENING,                                                                 LOWER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                             50B at margins with 52C                                                                      43C with 43D towards                                OPENED, UPPER                                                                            at center grading to                                                                         center grading to white                             SURFACE    white with magenta,                                                                          with 63B at base                                               57A/57B, at base.                                                  PETAL COLOR,                                                                             52B/52C        43D                                                 OPENED, LOWER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR,                                                                             52C            43D to white                                        FADING TO                                                                     PENDUNCLE  About 5 cm     4 to 4.2 cm                                         LENGTH                                                                        PEDUNCLE   Outward        Upright                                             ANGLE                                                                         PEDUNCLE   60A/60B        50A                                                 COLOR                                                                         GYNOECIUM  Darker than 59A                                                                              137B                                                COLOR                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `214`, as illustrated and described. 